Vermont Supreme Court says police can't charge for records

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Supreme Court says the Burlington Police Department cannot charge for the staff time needed to fulfill a public records request by a man who wanted more information about an incident he witnessed involving police and a member of the public.

In its Friday decision, the court ruled Vermont law does not allow police to charge for staff time when producing records.

According to the Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the case began in June 2017 when Reed Doyle saw what he believed was a police use-of-force on a boy.

Doyle was told he would have to pay for staff time to produce records.

The ACLU called the decision a major victory for government transparency.